Daylight developing apparatus for sheet film packs



Oct. 30, 1-962 H. R. SCHMIDT 3,060,830

DAYLIGHT DEVELOPING APPARATUS FOR SHEET FILM PACKS Filed April 21, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet l F/GJ INVENTOR. HANS ROBERT SCHMIDT;

ATTORNEYS H. R. SCHMIDT 3,060,830

DAYLIGHT DEVELOPING APPARATUS FOR SHEET FILM PACKS Oct. 30, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 21, 1959 INVENTORI HANS ROBERT sci gr BY o R N E Y5 Oct. 30, 1962 M D 3,060,830

DAYLIGHT DEVELOPING APPARATUS FOR SHEET FILM PACKS Filed April 21, 1959 5 Shaets-Sheet 5 1/ I I I I I l l/ y INVENTOR.

HANS ROBERT SCHMIDT ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofifice dfitififi tl Patented. Get. 30, 1962 3,060,830 DAYLIGHT DEVELOPING APPARATUS FUR SHEET FILM PACKS Hans Robert Schmidt, Koin-Stammheim, Germany, asstgnor to Agfa Aktiengesellschaft, Leverkusen, Germany, a corporation of Germany Filed Apr. 21, 1959, Ser. No. 8fi7,811 Claims priority, application Germany Apr. 30, 1958 4 Claims. (Cl. 9590) Daylight developing apparatus in which roll films or mmiature films from cassettes can be introduced in daylight and in a lightproof manner into developing tanks are already known.

The present invention is concerned with a daylight developing apparatus for sheet film packs, said apparatus cons1sting of an upper section serving for the opening and separation of the wrapping from the film and a bottom section as a container or tank for the processing baths, the upper section being provided with an insertion slot and passage for the film pack and the passage being divided into a discharge slot for the withdrawal of the pulling strip of the wrapping and the film-conveying passage which serves the purpose of guiding the film as far as the ejection slot above the developing tank.

The insertion slot for the film pack and also the outlet slot for the pulling strip and pack is protected by suitable material against the incidence of light. The inlet passage for the pack is so designed that the slightly curved pulling strip emerges from the outlet slot, while the film is defiected by a curved guiding surface into the film passage.

In one preferred embodiment, the upper section is fitted on the lower section by means of a screwthread or a bayonet connection. For permitting better manipulation, the upper section can also be provided with an opening for the index finger and with an indentation for holding the label with the thumb.

The container or tank for the processing liquid, more especially developer solutions, stop baths, baths for preliminary or intermediate rinsing and fixing baths may consist of two or more separate compartments so that several films can be processed. It is expedient to use a combined fixer and developer. For the purpose of greater stability and better development, the container or tank can be provided with ribs.

Novel features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art from a reading of the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts and in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view in elevation of one embodiment of this invention;

FIGS. 2a, 2b and 2c are cross-sectional views in elevation similar to FIG. 1 in conjunction with various phases of insertion of a film from a dental film pack therein; and

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view in elevation of another embodiment of this invention.

One embodiment of the apparatus is shown in section and by Way of example in FIGURES l and 2.

In FIGURE 1, a partitioned developing container or tank 1 for the development of two films in succession is arranged in the lower section. An upper section 2 fits into a lower section and can be so rotated that a film ejection slot 3 can eject the film either into the righthand compartment or into the left-hand compartment. The upper section is formed with an insertion slot 4 for introducing the pack and with a slot 5 from which the pulling strip of the pack projects. The slots 4 and 5 are made lightproof by means of velvet or similar means. As shown in the drawing, the curved surfaces in the film guide passage are so formed that the slightly curved strip of the pack slides along the curved surface and is pushed out through the slot 5, while the film, due to its rigidity, is pushed through the lower curved section of the passage and thus drops into the tank. The upper section also has an opening 6 for the index finger and a roughened bearing surface with an edge 8. FIG- URES 2a to 2c show three operating phases of the apparatus. A sheet film pack 9 with a pulling strip 10 and extended cover sheet 11 is pushed so far into the slot 4, after bending up the strip 10, that the said strip is pushed out from the slot 5 (FIG. 2b) and can be gripped with the left hand. The pack is now raised to the edge 8 while at the same time, holding the pulling strip and the cover sheet 11 with the label, the pack is pressed by means of the thumb on to the roughened bearing surface 7 (FIG. 20). By pulling on the strip, a film 12 inside the film feed passage is pulled out of the pack and drops because of its greater stiffness through the slot 3 into the developing tank I, in which the combined fixing and development takes place. After introducing the film, the upper section can be turned through 180 and a second film can be introduced for development purposes. The apparatus can consist of light-tight plastic, metal or combinations of both.

The apparatus is especially suitable for the development of dental X-ray packages as they are, for instance, disclosed in Belgian specification 570,726.

FIGURE 3 show another constructional form in which a rubber or metal insert 13 formed with a slot 9 is arranged in the screwthread between the lower section 1 and upper section 2. By rotating the upper section 2 through or the lower section I can be sealed off in a completely tight manner from the upper section, so that it is possible to vigorously shake the film in the developer and thus greatly reduce the developing time.

What I claim is:

1. A daylight developing apparatus for a sheet film pack having a pulling strip for removing the film from the pack and having a cover sheet extending from one side of the pack and over the outline of the pack, said developing apparatus comprising a lower section serving as a container for the processing bath, an upper section in which the wrapping is separated from the film and for conveying the film into the processing bath of said lower section, said upper section including an elongated passageway extending from an entrance at the upper portion of said upper section into communication with said container, one wall of said elongated passageway being cut out to form a slot disposed at a distance from said entrance which is less than the overall length of said film pack including said pulling strip and extending cover sheet and is far enough from said entrance to permit said pulling strip to extend through said slot while the end of said pack to which said pulling strip is attached remains fully inserted within said passageway, light-sealing means being installed upon said entrance and said slot for preventing light from entering said passageway while said film pack and pulling strip are inserted through them, the entrance portion of said passageway between said entrance and said slot being directed substantially in line with said slot, the terminal portion of said passageway from said slot to said container being inclined away from the slotted side of said passageway to facilitate the automatic extension of said pulling strip through said slot when the end of said pack to which said pulling strip is attached is fully inserted within said passageway, the terminal portion of said passageway curving away from said entrance portion, and the wall of said passageway between said entrance and said slot being convexly formed to facilitate said automatic extension of said pulling strip through said slot.

2. A daylight developing apparatus for a sheet film pack having a pulling strip for removing the film from the pack and having a cover sheet extending from one side of the pack and over the outline of the pack, said developing apparatus comprising a lower section serving as a container for the processing bath, an upper section in which the wrapping is separated from the film and for conveying the film into the processing bath of said lower section, said upper section including an elongated passageway extending from an entrance at the upper portion of said upper section into communication with said container, one wall of said elongated passageway being cut out to form a slot disposed at a distance from said entrance which is less than the overall length of said film pack including said pulling strip and extending cover sheet and is far enough from said entrance to permit said pulling strip to extend through said slot while the end of said pack to which said pulling strip is attached remains fully inserted within said passageway, light-sealing means being installed upon said entrance and said slot for preventing light from entering said passageway while said film pack and pulling strip art inserted through them, the entrance portion of said passageway between said entrance and said slot being directed substantially in line with said slot, the terminal portion of said passageway from said slot to said container being inclined away from the slotted side of said passageway to facilitate the automatic extension of said pulling strip through said slot when the end of said pack to which said pulling strip is attached is fully inserted within said passageway, and the upper section of the apparatus for better manipulation purposes being formed with an opening for the index finger and a roughened surface for holding the extended cover sheet by the thumb.

3. A daylight developing apparatus for a sheet film pack having a pulling strip for removing the film from the pack and having a cover sheet extending from one side of the pack and over the outline of the pack, said developing apparatus comprising a lower section serving as a container for the processing bath, an upper section in which the wrapping is separated from the film and for conveying the film into the processing bath of said lower section, said upper section including an elongated passageway extending from an entrance at the upper por tion of said upper section into communication with said container, one wall of said elongated passageway being cut out to form a slot disposed at a distance from said entrance which is less than the overall length of said film pack including said pulling strip and extending cover sheet and is far enough from said entrance to permit said pulling strip to extend through said slot while the end of said pack to which said pulling strip is attached remains fully inserted within said passageway, light-sealing means being installed upon said entrance and said slot for preventing light from entering said passageway while said film pack and pulling strip are inserted through them, the entrance portion of said passageway between said entrance and said slot being directed substantially in line with said slot, the terminal portion of said passageway from said slot to said container being inclined away from the slotted side of said passageway to tacilitate the automatic extension of said pulling strip through said slot when the end of said pack to which said pulling strip is attached is fully inserted within said passageway, and the upper and lower sections being engaged with each other by means allowing the upper and lower sections to be turned relative to one another.

4. A daylight developing apparatus for a sheet film pack having a pulling strip for removing the film from the pack and having a cover sheet extending from one side of the pack and over the outline of the pack, said developing apparatus comprising a lower section serving as a container for the processing bath, an upper section in which the wrapping is separated from the film and for conveying the film into the processing bath of said lower section, said upper section including an elongated passageway extending from an entrance at the upper portion of said upper section into communication with said container, one wall of said elongated passageway being cut out to form a slot disposed at a distance from said entrance which is less than the overall length of said film pack including said pulling strip and extending cover sheet and is far enough from said entrance to permit said pulling strip to extend through said slot while the end of said pack to which said pulling strip is attached remains fully inserted within said passageway, light-sealing means being installed upon said entrance and said slot for preventing light from entering said passageway while said film pack and pulling strip are inserted through them, the entrance portion of said passageway between said entrance and said slot being directed substantially in line with said slot, the terminal portion of said passageway from said slot to said container being inclined away from the slotted side of said passageway to facilitate the automatic extension of said pulling strip through said slot when the end of said pack to which said pulling strip is attached is fully inserted within said passageway, and a disc having a slot being arranged between the upper and lower sections, said disc being attached to said lower section, said lower section being shaped as a cylinder having a vertical axis of rotation, said elongated passageway meeting said slot eccentrically with respect to said disc, and rotatable means connecting said sections so that after introduction of the film the lower section can be sealed off from the upper section by rotating the upper section.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,164,773 Woodman Dec. 21, 1915 1,393,108 Garrett Oct. 11, 1921 2,108,982 Eggert et al. Feb. 22, 1938 2,693,138 Lesjack Nov. 2, 1954 hus 

